Summary
Most players would agree thatElden Ringis a tough game. Although some in-game mechanics can make playing a little easier, the true key to success inElden Ringis perseverance. No matter which type of character build a player chooses to make - strength, dex, intelligence, or faith - there will always be times whenElden Ringtests players.
This is never more true than in boss fights.Boss encounters move the story forward, they’re the moments that test players’ skill, and they’re the walls that players need to overcome. Especially in the late game, certain boss attacks can easily one-shot a player if they are too under-leveled and some can kill the player no matter the level. Learning to overcome these attacks and successfully performing a counterattack is the best way to achieve victory over difficult enemies.
10Flame Of The Fell God
Fire Giant
With a health pool to match its size and attacks that can cause huge damage, the Fire Giant is an intimidating boss battle. Found guarding the Forge of the Giants in the Mountaintop of the Giants region, this boss encounter can be a slow grind, as players chip away at the giant’s health.
The boss has a range of big attacks, but it is the Flame Of The Fell God that can deal the most damage and end the fight suddenly. The Fire Giantsummons balls of flamethat hover above the ground and slowly follow the player. These will eventually explode, dealing huge damage that can instantly kill players. Luckily, they are easily avoided by using Torrent to ride to safety.
9Fissure
Godfrey, First Elden Lord
Godfrey is a tough boss encounter at the end game ofElden Ring. He guards the entrance to the Erdtree and the final boss fight of the game. Of all the end-game bosses, Godfrey has one of the easier move sets to learn, but this makes him no less dangerous. His axe can quickly take half the player’s health, while his second-phase slams can put an end to the fight quickly.
His most dangerous move may be Fissure. Unless very over-leveled, this move is likely to one-shot many players. Godfrey raises his axe into the air and slams it down, creating a molten fissure in the ground. He then releases the axe, creating an AOE attack that inflicts huge damage.
8Comet Azur
Rennala, Queen Of The Full Moon
Rennala is one of the easier main boss fights in the game. She is extremely sensitive to bleed and can be quickly overcome with some well-timed attacks. She is not without challenge though. Throughout the fight, she will summon various spirit enemies to help her andcast an array of spellsthat can quickly kill the player if they are not careful. Her most devastating attack is one of the most notorious in the game, Comet Azur.
This high-damage spell can be found later in the game in the Mt. Gelmir area, but it is first encountered in the opening of Rennala’s second phase. She unleashes a huge beam of energy that will instantly kill the player if they fail to get out of the way. Successfully dodging this spell leaves Rennala open to counterattack.
7Diving Grab
Astel, Naturalborn Of The Void
Found while following Ranni’s questline, Astel is a cosmic horror come to life. Part skeletal giant, part insectoid monster, this boss fight takes practice to perfect. However,most will overcome this encounterwith few problems.
Astel uses a range of attack types, from a blasting beam of energy to pincer bites to gravity slams. The most devastating of all is the Diving Grab attack. Astel teleports away and reappears above the player. Diving, the boss grabs the player and brings them to its deadly pincers, chomping down on the character. This attack can mostly one-shot players, unless over-leveled, and can be tough to avoid.
6Meteor Crash
Starscourge Radahn
Radahn is one of the toughest bosses in the early game, with his fast-moving attacks and devastating slams. Found in Caelid via Redmane Castle, Radahn is an important figure in the lore ofElden Ringand one of the most memorable fights in the game.
His big move comes with the transition into Phase 2. Using his gravity magic, Radahn leaps into the sky, disappearing from view. After a few moments, players will see a flaming Radahn come crashing towards them. Unless very over-leveled, this move will instantly kill the player, ending the second phase before it has begun. Avoiding this devastating move is simple enough. Players just need to summon Torrent and ride out of the way.
5Bloodboon Ritual
Mohg, Lord Of Blood
This is yet another tough boss encounter. Mohg can be found in one of the underground regions of the game, waiting at the end of Mohgwyn Palace. Thisfight is a grueling battle, with Mohg often spreading bloodflame around the arena. His attacks have a long reach and are difficult to time. His most dangerous attack comes in the transition to Phase 2.
Mohg’s Bloodboon Ritual is unavoidable and will cause the player a lot of damage. Drinking the Purifying Crystal Tear before the attack will lessen the damage it deals. Mohg summons the power of his god, the Formless Mother, causing the player to hemorrhage and lose health, while Mohg heals. Without the specific Crystal Tear, this move can instantly kill the player unless constantly drinking from the Crimson Flask.
4Elden Shattering
Radagon Of The Golden Order
Radagon is the first phase of the final boss fight inElden Ring. Defeating Radagon willtrigger the Elden Beast to emerge, whose defeat will beat the game. Radagon is a tough opponent to get through and many will fall before even attempting the Elden Beast.
He is fast, aggressive, and deals a large amount of damage. His most devastating attack is the Elden Shattering. Radagon raises his glowing hammer into the air and slams it to the ground three times. Each attack causes a shockwave that can knock the player down. Players who miss the timing of the first hit will likely die from the following hits.
3Black Blades
Maliketh, The Black Blade
Maliketh is one of the toughest bosses in the game, with extremely fast attacks and quick movement. Defeating this boss solo is no simple task. Maliketh has many different attacks throughout the fight, but the one that can cause the most damage is his Black Blades attack.
The boss leaps into the air and fires burning projectiles, which can quickly kill the player then and there if not avoided. A single hit of these attacks also causes the player’s health bar to shrink. In addition, this can be followed by his Piledriver attack, where he slams his sword into the ground, followed by a devastating AOE explosion, which can instantly kill under-level players.
2Placidusax’s Ruin
Dragonlord Placidusax
Thishidden bossis by far the toughest dragon encounter in the game. Placidusax is a previous Elden Lord. He has a large selection of devastating attacks and a huge health pool that can only be chipped away. Overcoming this boss takes a lot of patience.
The toughest attack the two-headed dragon has in his arsenal is Placidusax’s Ruin. The Dragonlord disappears, causing lightning strikes to erupt around the arena. During this, he rematerializes in the air with a diving attack, which then ends with him breathing fire. The fire then becomes powerful lasers that cause explosions around the arena. This final attack can easily one-shot players if caught. This is the toughest move to avoid and the biggest hurdle in the encounter.
1Waterfowl Dance
Malenia, Blade Of Miquella
This optional boss has come to represent the highest level of skill in the game. Defeating Malenia solo is a badge of honor for many players and to achieve this feat, players must overcome the notorious Waterfowl Dance.
The boss leaps into the air, giving only a moment’s notice, and slashes her sword around in a whirlwind of attacks. She does this three times before the move has finished. Dodging this attack successfully takes a lot of practice and many find it impossible. It is also possible to block the attack with a strong shield, but this will also mean Malenia heals herself. The attack causes massive damage and can kill a player before they have time to react.
